Nurse, Kiteboarder, Surfer, Santa Maria, SAL, Cape Verde

When I think back to the time I spent with Ms. Heather Blake earlier this year, my thoughts travel to Cape Verde, her charging fearlessly into the wind and attacking a colossal surf break with just a board and a kite. I am very much aware that other folks know an entirely different Heather, the one who provides comfort at their most vulnerable, in a hospital setting, in the post-traumatic moments. The juxtaposition is fascinating and unsurprising. Ms. Blake is an optimist approaching life with awe, wonder and intent, infecting those around her with the same charge of marvel. Ms. Blake’s joie de vivre and vulnerability come through in both the pictures and the interview answers, solidifying the snapshot of a confident WOW Woman, comfortable in her own skin.

1. Name.

Heather Joy Blake.

2. Where is your hometown?

Born in Dover, NH. But raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina since I was four years old.

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation?

CRNA - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

What does your average day look like?

I work mainly in two areas: in the Operating Room (OR) doing anesthesia for surgery, and in Labor & Delivery providing pain support for laboring mamas. I also cover many other areas of the hospital, including sedation cases/nerve blocks/lumbar punctures/etc in the ED, intravenous access, code blue response, and airway management outside the OR. I tend to work longer shifts, either 12 or 24 hours at a time. I like it this way because I get longer stretches off to play.

4. What did you study in school?

Bachelors in Nursing. Minored in music my first year (got a flute scholarship!) but dropped it because it was just too much work.

5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)?

You can’t choose your family – and I know so many kids are born into unfair, heartbreaking circumstances. But I was a very lucky little girl. I feel really blessed that I had an amazing childhood. I feel gratitude for this daily. Hands down, I couldn’t have asked for better parents. Just so loving, caring, encouraging, fun, and completely dedicated to us! I had two much older brothers (10 and 14 years older than me) and a younger sister.

The boys were basically out of the house by the time I was old enough to remember anything. I do remember being extraordinarily close to my little sister, Melissa. We had separate twin beds, but we would push them together so they were touching and hold hands at night before we fell asleep. We lived in the country on seven acres of wooded land, with an acre of garden and fruit orchard. There was loads and loads of play time – in the woods, in the creeks, on our bikes/wagon/wheelbarrow/anything with wheels, you name it! Our days were filled with wild creativity and imagination. We had chores too: weeding the garden, planting, harvesting, canning. Lots of household stuff too. I was a competent cook by the age of 10, and could do all the dishes, laundry, ironing, and cleaning. My sister and I were mowing the lawn by the time we were 12.

My mother is a gifted pianist and soprano, and she encouraged us to pursue music. Piano and flute became our passion, and we even played in a youth symphony – an incredible experience I will never forget. My parents didn’t have a lot of money. Mom was a stay-at-home mom and Dad was a pastor. But they would provide us with simple but great experiences. Every single year we would go on some sort of weeks-long camping/road trip, exploring the national parks, war memorials, beaches, and places of historical or cultural interest. We visited nearly all the states (except for Alaska and maybe a few others). I believe that all of this play time, work time, creative brainwork, and exploration provided a sort of “life-training”. I know it served me well as a young adult and primed me for success.

I entered my teen years with confidence and eagerness to excel at anything I put my mind to! And I had decided very early on that nursing was the field I was most interested in. I became a CNA – Certified Nursing Assistant – and a lifeguard at age 16; an EMT – Emergency Medical Technician – at age 18; got into nursing school at 19; and graduated with my BSN at 22.

During high school, I worked as a CNA at a nursing home, volunteered on an ambulance, lifeguarded at our local outdoor pool, and worked as a counselor and lifeguard at summer camp. I guess what I’m trying to say with all this rambling is, I had a good family that set me up well for life. And that is something I don’t take for granted. That being said, getting to where I am now took a tremendous amount of drive and hard work on my part, which I’m proud of. I went back to school shortly before my 28th birthday to pursue a Masters in Nurse Anesthesia, a goal of mine since before college.

It feels crazy to me, but this month marks my 5-year anniversary as a CRNA! It is such a gratifying job. Patients are placing their lives in my hands. Wow! It’s such a huge responsibility and can be both exciting and humbling. Even after my worst shifts, I can say that I LOVE my career and wouldn’t change a thing.

Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of.

I’m proud that I….

• created my life path and pursued my goals independently, without being pushed by anyone.

• graduated high school, nursing school, and grad school with academic honors.

• dedicated so much time and energy learning how to play music.

• had the courage to call off my wedding one month before it was supposed to take place (best decision of my life!!)

• am 100% debt-free, what a feeling!! Proud to have paid off 180k of student loan debt post-grad school in less than five years, with very little financial assistance from family

• took kite lessons in Brazil!

• have done some considerable solo traveling.

• drove my 22’ 1985 Fleetwood Jamboree from Santa Cruz to the very tip of Baja without killing myself or anyone else.

• love with all of my heart.

What was the breakthrough moment for you (in your personal life and/or career?) that set you on the current path in life?

The breakthrough in my personal life was ending my engagement and moving to California when I was 23 years old. But more about that in the next question. I owe the breakthrough in my professional life to my dear friend Shelly. I had always wanted to go back to CRNA school, but the task seemed daunting. I needed to take a statistics class (and I am terrible at math!!!), work on my resume and “beef it up” for grad school interviews, do some volunteer work at the hospital and in the community, study medical books, and the list seemed endless.

Shelly and I had worked together in the ICU. She went to CRNA school one year ahead of me. And she PUSHED me to get the ball rolling. She encouraged me to take on more projects at work and care for more medically complex patients to gain more experience. She pointed me to areas where I could volunteer, such as at a cleft lip and palate clinic in Mexico and locally at the San Diego marathon. She provided many hours of interview tips, study sheets, advice, and encouragement. I am not sure how much longer it would have taken me (maybe never!) to start doing all of those things had it not been for her!!

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

Oh man hahaha…. SO different! At age 20, I was super hard-core orthodox Christian, living a straight and narrow life. No drinking, drugs, or sex, full vegetarian, and countless other strict lifestyle constraints and practices. I didn’t even own a bikini or have my ears pierced!

I attended a conservative Seventh-Day-Adventist college where there was a curfew, dress code, required worships/convocations, and a bunch of other stuff. My plan was to get married to the only boyfriend I’d ever had and start having babies by age 23. But those plans were derailed when I broke off my engagement one month before our wedding, just shy of my 23rd birthday. It felt like the world was ending, and I didn’t know how to even explain it to people, but I was convicted that we were not right for each other. I didn’t realize it then, but in that moment, my life would forever change. My Dad suggested I move in with my aging grandma in San Diego, CA. So I did just that. Packed up my tiny little two-door Honda Civic, drove West, got a baller job with double pay and a 10k sign-on bonus in the ICU (I had been making $17/hr as a nurse in TN!!), and let’s just say….. I FOUND MYSELF in California. Much to my parent’s chagrin!!

I discovered a new religion: “Be kind to one another if possible. It is always possible” – Dalai Lama. I made a lot of hippie friends. We played a lot of music and danced a bit. I learned how to surf. I took up beach volleyball clinics and sailing lessons. The ocean became my church. I made a best friend who introduced me to hot yoga and the art of traveling. She took me to Bali for a 3-week surf trip, and my obsession for travel and exploration exploded! Over the years, I lived in other parts of California… Oakland, San Francisco, and now Santa Cruz. I have never felt more “me” than I do now – at 34 years old. And I have never felt more at home than I do here in Santa Cruz.

The ocean is still my heaven, and I feel so blessed to be near it every single day! I have found a beautiful man and his two sweet children to spend my days with. Our love of nature, adventure, and all things water brought us together. We met kitesurfing, in fact! Deep mutual love and respect propelled us forward in this magical experience called life. My existence became exponentially more fun once he entered it. I just adore him!! Also in my life are a solid tribe of friends who are all lovely positive shining lights. They inspire me to be my better self. I love being around them. Also, their antics keep me entertained!

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

There was a time when I found myself in an emotionally-abusive relationship with an alcoholic. I always thought I was so strong, but in that moment, it was hard to find the courage to leave him. I learned so much from that experience. I learned a lot about addiction – how the source of addiction is so often a severe childhood trauma – and I now have a greater sense of empathy for those who struggle. I also learned how easily the “healthy” partner can become “sick” with enabling and co-dependency.

I went to some Alanon meetings because I was in the darkest place I’d ever been – feeling so guilty for “giving up” on him – feeling it was my fault he didn’t get better – that I didn’t do enough – because these were the things he told me. I was desperate for help. There were so many brave souls there, people who were the daughters and sons of alcoholics, the mothers and fathers, the husbands and wives. I had no idea the sheer number of people who have alcoholics in their life, and how damaging it is. This was so long ago, and here I am suddenly and unexpectedly crying as I write this. If you saw these people at a grocery store, you’d never know the horrific pain they were harboring at home. I even saw my yoga teacher at one meeting.

I was profoundly inspired by the people I met and interacted with, many of whom choose every day to stay positive and focus on being their best self. Most of all, I learned that we are all in this together. These strong individuals helped me stay strong through that tough period and allowed me to get back up on my feet.

8. Advice for other women?

Make a list of the things that feed your soul. Do MORE of those. I know a lot of people – women especially – who suffer from anxiety. If you are touched by this, do everything in your power to work through it. Anxiety is counter-productive. It does nothing to help you or the situation, and only sucks away your energy and power. Learn how to take all of that negative energy and channel it into empowerment. Surround yourself with positive people.

Finally, to all my girls exploring new relationships, I would say pay really close attention to what you want and what’s important to you, and don’t settle! People don’t change. You either love and accept your partner 100% for who they are, or you move on and don’t waste your time. It is a fools’ errand to think you will change anyone!

9. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

I have become obsessed with windy places. Just the feeling of wind on my face puts me over the moon with happiness. You can be having the worst day ever, but if you can get out on the water, it all melts away. There is no better therapy in all the world!

10. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

Music. I am lucky to play piano and flute by ear! Playing “by ear” means that I can pretty much play anything I hear someone else play. So a song will come on the radio, and if I like it, I usually can sit down and figure it out pretty quickly. This is a fun talent I’ve also used while traveling. Usually I bring my flute with me on my trips and have joined in on jam sessions everywhere from a Brazil street party to a beach in Baja to a bar on Cape Verde!

Cooking, with a special skill for vegetarian delicacies that will tantalize your tastebuds. Lastly, I am completely obsessed with kitesurfing. I took a week to take lessons in northern Brazil one year and was hooked instantly. But when I got back home to Santa Cruz, things were a little rougher for me. I nearly drowned like 50 times battling the strong winds and big waves that can be encountered at our home break. It was nothing like the warm flat water of Brazil! Additionally, I got hot-launched by my kite on the beach and dislocated/broke my arm mere four months into my new hobby!

Nonetheless, I am so proud of me. I didn’t let any of these setbacks derail me. I persevered and pushed on. Way before the doctor said it was ok, I was back on the water, forging on. Every single day that I wasn’t working and there was wind, I was at the beach. I’m so glad I stuck with it because it is by far my favorite thing in the world! Have you ever wanted to fly? Then try it J

11. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A mother.

Future goals/challenges?

To continue to manage that balance of work and play as life evolves and becomes more complicated, so that play is always on top ;)

12. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

Maybe it’s crazy, but I don’t have fear or anxiety about anything. I believe everything happens for a reason. Looking back now, to moments when I thought life was so hard, I can trace each hardship to something beautiful that came out of it. I know a couple, and their mantra is “embrace it”. That’s pretty much how I feel about life, for better or for worse.

13. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?

I don’t really have any regrets, but I do wish my high school experience could have been different. My mother insisted on homeschooling me all the way until my senior year, despite my protests. She meant well, but her well-meanings were largely out of fear and were control-based. My brothers had gone wild in boarding school and dropped out of college. She felt that she could keep a tighter rein on us girls by keeping us at home.

If I could do anything differently, I would have chosen a regular high school, more opportunities for social interactions and participation in ALL the sports, the clubs, leadership positions, band, school trips, and of course dating. I wanted to experience it all.

14. What inspires you?

Traveling. Everything about it. I love the experience of immersing myself into a different culture, food, learning the language, interacting with the locals, and dancing to the music. My love – Rob – is always using “Shazam” (an app on your phone) to capture every awesome new song we hear. It’s hysterical. We will be sitting on someone’s steps resting after a hike, and a song is wafting out through a crack in the door. He’ll be holding his phone out like a Teletubby just trying to get that song!!

I am adamant that traveling is the best investment you can make in yourself. It really shifts your perspective.

15. What are you hopeful about?

That we will get through this pandemic, create more vaccines, and elect a new president!

16. What are some ingredients to a good life?

Keep the inner child alive. Stay young at heart. Play as much as possible. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t stress about things that are out of your control. Be kind. Be compassionate. Remember, everyone is just doing the best they can.

17. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why?

Outgoing, playful, open minded/hearted, adventurous. My friends are always saying, “Only you, Heather!” Basically what that means is, I am always getting myself into the craziest predicaments, meeting the most unique people, and really having just an unbelievable time, regardless of where I am.

And I absolutely love it!! People fascinate me… their stories, what makes them tick. Being around people energizes me. I love talking to everyone. And they’ll tell me literally everything, it’s so funny. Complete strangers. My friends will be like, they told you that in 5 minutes?

18. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

Get out of the house! Not joking! I so wish I could have done that. But in all seriousness, I would have told myself that it’s OK to question things. I was essentially brainwashed in my church and religion. To question anything seemed like a sin outright! A lot didn’t seem to add up, but I was told to “have faith”. So I would say to my 14-year-old self: “think the thoughts, ask the questions, and if it doesn’t feel right, it’s OK to think and be different”.

Finally, I would remind her that the things that seem SO HUGE in that moment, are actually not a big deal. Some of the very best life advice is found in a book lying on my coffee table at home: “Don’t sweat the small stuff”.

19. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favorite reads?)

I am reading The Goldfinch right now. Great book! Love the Russian kid. Such an entertaining, endearing character. Most impactful books in my life have been The Bible, Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I gifted the Cheryl Strayed book to a friend who was struggling with chronic debilitating migraines and an opioid addiction. That book helped me get through a stressful/sad time in my life. It is raw, real, passionate, compassionate, and refreshingly unedited. I hope it helped him find some peace. I will never know for sure, as he lost the fight to Fentanyl not long after I gave it to him.

The Alchemist was sent to my father, a retired minister. I told him that it would explain any questions he may have had surrounding my departure from an organized religion.

20. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why?

My mom is a badass!! It blows my mind – all the things she is capable of. The thing I love about her the most is her positivity. Nothing gets her down. Ever. Also, she is the hardest worker I know. Not a lazy bone in her body. She can’t sit still, actually.

She homeschooled all four of her kids, and rocked it too! Her energy is limitless. She’s fun to be around, and tells the best stories. She has hung in there with my dad for over 50 years, despite their countless differences. I appreciate all the sacrifices she made in her life to care for us kids and dad too.

Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, why you admire them?

I would nominate Shelly, my friend and mentor. “Shelly, you are such an inspiration in the work force and at home. You always show up with 100% enthusiasm for everything you do! You care so much for your co-workers and patients. You are compassionate, empathetic, and kind. You always go above and beyond for every single person you encounter. Watching you carry your family through your little toddler daughter’s brain cancer has been painful and awe-inspiring. Your positivity remains unshaken. You are the strongest person I know, truly. You are the best CRNA, wife, daughter, mother, and friend imaginable.”

22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

I wrote in a blog while traveling solo through New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji for six weeks when I was 25. After graduating from grad school in 2014, I continued writing as I did another 6-week solo trip through South America: hjoyb.blogspot.com